@TeesValleyMonitor

teesvalleymonitor.comDeath on the Ocean Wave?New film - All Rivers Spill Their Stories to the Sea - explores how the government sanctioned the destruction of the North East's fishing industry

All Rivers Spill their Stories to the Sea in 2021 thousands of crabs washed up on shores around Tees Bay resulting in the near collapse of the region's fishing industry. the story of one of the fishers who fought back is told in a new film, reviewed here: www.teesvalleymonitor.com/death-on-the...

Government opens can of worms at Tees Valley Combined Authority Report in @FinancialTimes this evening that statutory investigation into Tees Valley Combined Authority is to be launched by government. Angela Rayner will be announcing it tomorrow.

teesvalleymonitor.comGovernments fail Tees Valley: DarlingtonLink RoadDarlington Northern Link Road is out for public consultation. Proposal may benefit associate of the mayor. Will the government see through this?

How Governments Fail Tees Valley: the case of the Darlington Northern Link Road Government loves devolution and also freeports. And because of that it has been happy to turn a blind eye to the mismanagement of public money at the Tees Valley Authority. www.teesvalleymonitor.com/how-governme...

teesvalleymonitor.comTVCA Disrupts Apprenticeships ProgrammeTVCA postpones awarding of contracts to private adult education providers for six months, jeopardising apprenticeship programmes. The young are disadvantaged.

12 Sept

12,000 Jobs at Teesworks (allegedly) but TVCA at Centre of Apprenticeship Crisis TVCA is suspending award of contracts to private providers of apprenticeships as it awaits outcome of legal action. Another muddle at TVCA The young are left in the lurch. www.teesvalleymonitor.com/tvca-disrupt...

“All Rivers Spill their Stories into the Sea” – a Film by Jeanie Finlay. Regent Cinema Redcar In autumn 2021 as thousands of dead crabs washed up on beaches around Tees Bay and beyond, the region’s inshore fishermen watched their livelihoods disappear almost overnight.

Stan’s efforts to get justice for the fishers have been captured by celebrated filmmaker, Jeanie Finlay. Her film “All Rivers Spill their Stories to the Sea” is on at the Regent Cinema on Saturday 12 September.

youtube.com🦞 ALL RIVERS SPILL THEIR STORIES TO THE SEA - a film by Jeanie Finlay. OFFICIAL TRAILER 🦀YouTube video by Jeanie Finlay

The early screening is already sold out. Tickets for the 8pm show are still available. www.youtube.com/watch?v=seU-...

Defra opened then rapidly closed an investigation into the die-off and followed up with a campaign of disinformation claiming it was due to natural causes. But the fishers fought back, one of whom was Stan Rennie, from Hartlepool.

@TeesValleyMonitor reposted

Julie Harrison

@jharrison22.bsky.social

3 Sept

Replying to @teesvalleymonitor.bsky.social

Houchen was very rude to the caller 'Rob'. As you say, he acted like Trump does to questions he doesn't like.

teesvalleymonitor.comBombast and Belligerence: Ben Houchen at the BBCTees Valley mayor, Ben Houchen, performs his monthly phone-in on BBC Radio Tees, attacking his critics and painting a rosy picture of the region's future.

3 Sept

Tees Valley mayor performs at BBC Radio Tees phone-in. Regeneration in the region, we learn, has not failed. Young people now have job opportunities, with apprentices at NZT being paid £500 a day. So, high crime rates are not his problem. Our report: www.teesvalleymonitor.com/bombast-and-...

northeastbylines.co.ukBen Houchen’s hypocrisy over “Lawless Britain”In addition to disingenuously reinforcing tropes about a “lawless Britain”, Ben Houchen’s Mail piece is hypocritical too

2 Sept

Houchen laments the problem of drugs on Teesside yet renewed the contract at Teesworks for a security company run by a convicted drug trafficker. Ray Casey reports: northeastbylines.co.uk/news/opinion...

europeanpowell.substack.comSunak Built Teesside Freeport. Now He Advises Anthropic, The Company Positioned To Take the Profit.In 2021, Rishi Sunak stood at Teesworks and announced his flagship Brexit freeport.

1 Sept

This raises a few issues that deserve more publicity

EuropeanPowell@europeanpowell.bsky.social

Rishi Sunak announced Teesworks as his flagship Brexit freeport as Chancellor in 2021. Over £600m in public money followed. The freeport is now effectively closed. The site is being repurposed as an AI Growth Zone. The named partner: Anthropic. europeanpowell.substack.com/p/sunak-buil...

teesvalleymonitor.comLaw and disorder on Teesside: Press Politicians FailNews of the A66 crash brought lawlessness in 'Middlesbrough' to national attention. Press and many politicians turned tragedy into circus.

1 Sept

Commentators have used Teesside tragedies to promote their own agenda while local press bought in off-the-shelf reports But issues will not be solved by those who grandstand. Nor are they helped by a lazy and craven local press. www.teesvalleymonitor.com/law-and-diso...

news.sky.comFormer F1 team boss Stoddart to take off again with European Cargo airlineA freight carrier set up to import PPE during the COVID pandemic is being bought out of administration by Paul Stoddart, who sold his stake in it two years ago, Sky News learns.

20 Aug

European Cargo bought out of administration by former owner, Paul Stoddart. Will its debts to Teesside Airport now be repaid? And will the airport give them their grounded plane back? Time will tell. Initial report by Sky News: news.sky.com/story/former...

@TeesValleyMonitor reposted

Leigh Jones

@leighsus.bsky.social

16 Aug

A few weeks ago a start-up said it was investing £50m into Teesside Airport. It looks like it's based out of two suburban homes in the south of England. Where's the money coming from? I dug into it for today's Teesside Lead.

teesside.thelead.ukIs a three-bed Essex house investing £50m in Teesside Airport?Airport investor previously tried to buy British Steel

@TeesValleyMonitor reposted

Jennifer Williams

@jenwilliamsft.bsky.social

5 Aug

A bit from me on devo max and the outlines of an emerging question: what will councils be for? as.ft.com/r/731ed47f-f...

as.ft.comAndy Burnham rewires the ‘unaccountable’ statePrime minister’s opening devolution gambit does not lack ambition

teesvalleymonitor.comDevolution Fever Overlooks the Tees Valley ConundrumThe Guardian publishes letter from TVM which warns that extended devolution must acknowledge changing regional political dynamics or risk the same fate at TVCA

5 Aug

Burnham's Devolution Plans The Guardian comments and Tees Valley Monitor answers back. And the question is, why is no one talking about Teesside in all of this? Our report is here: www.teesvalleymonitor.com/devolution-f...

teesvalleymonitor.comAlfor Aviation Invest Teesside Airport. Get Flags out?Alfor Aviation has announced it will make Teesside Airport its HQ and build a facility there. Who are they? Will they suffer the same fate as European Cargo?

3 Aug

Has Teesside Airport Finally Found a Genuine Investor? Alfor Aviation is investing £50 million, but can the announcement be trusted? After all, the last 'investor' left with an unpaid bill of £20.1 million. Read our report here: www.teesvalleymonitor.com/alfor-aviati...

teesvalleymonitor.comTVCA Appointment Inadequacy Oversight of AuthorityTVCA has appointed a Monitoring Officer. How robust was the selection and how closely did the BVN panel monitor it? BVN panel is not achieving change at TVCA

23 July

TVCA Director Appointment Lays Bare Inadequacy of Government Oversight of Failing Authority The TVCA issued Best Value Notice April 24 yet the autocratic rule of the mayor continues and appears largely unchecked. A warning for future devolution. Our report: www.teesvalleymonitor.com/tvca-directo...

northeastbylines.co.ukShock as Teesworks loses its flagship projectØrsted, the overall contract holder for the Hornsea 3 job, has agreed with SeAH that work on the wind farm bases will be discontinued

13 Feb

Crisis at Teesworks' SeAH Wind Factory Ray Casey reports ondow nturn at SeAH as production of monopiles for Hornsea 3 moves to Spain. What impact will this have for the future of the site? How much public money will go down the drain? Report is here: northeastbylines.co.uk/business/sho...

northeastbylines.co.ukReality bites at the South Tees Development CorporationReality check at the South Tees Development Corporation (STDC)

8 Feb

Teesworks: Cause for Concern While many of us have looked on at the chaotic rollout of Teesworks regeneration project, Ray Casey has meticulously assembled the evidence that confirms our suspicions. Companies are voting with their feet. His report is here: northeastbylines.co.uk/region/teess...

teesvalleymonitor.comTees Valley MonitorPolitical discussion and analysis of issues affecting the Tees Valley region.

3 Feb

Red Faces at Reform Redcar A by-election candidate had the support of the party removed last week. We consider why Reform keeps getting this wrong: www.teesvalleymonitor.com

Farage Attempts to Woo Tees Valley Mayor, Ben Houchen The Financial Times reports today (Nigel Farage seeks to persuade Tory mayor, Ben Houchen, to defect to Reform, Anna Gross and George Parker) that the Reform leader has held discussions with Ben Houchen ...

And the increased oversight put in place by the Government last year, when the Tees Valley Combined Authority was served with a best Value Notice, appears to have had little success in curtailing the mayor’s idiosyncratic use of public money to fund his favoured projects ...

teesvalleymonitor.comFunds for Teesside Airport Fly Under the RadarTees Valley Authority injects millions in funds to Teesside Airport without seeking cabinet approval

an example of which we reported recently - teesvalleymonitor.com/funds-for-teesside-airport-fly-under-the-radar. Could some other Reform-led councils benefit from his expertise in avoiding proper accountability?

Farage himself has denied ‘reaching out’ to Houchen. There remains the matter of Farage’s 7 May deadline for defections and whether this would apply to the Tees Valley mayor, given that, unlike Tory parliamentarians, he is not currently in opposition but has a power base ...

That may provide him with appeal that Tory MPs lack. It appears that the mayor being embroiled in scandal is no disincentive in Reform World. Perhaps this is because some degree of scandal attaches to all councils now under Reform control.

1. “I’ve always been a Conservative. Loyalty is important to me,” says the mayor. 2. The mayor believes it comes down to a matter of economic competence. In this Reform just doesn’t stack up, he believes. Adding ...

“There’s a big opportunity for the Tories to regain some trust by just focusing on the economy.” 3. The mayor believes that the Conservatives and Reform will eventually come together. Oddly, while the FT has been informed that Farage and a Reform staff member met with Houchen in mid-December ...

in an attempt to persuade him to ditch the Conservative Party and join Reform. The first approach was made in December, with a second last week. The mayor has so far rejected his advances. Why? ...

teesvalleymonitor.comBP Building Net Zero Teesside with Chinese SteelThe BP-led consortium behind Net Zero Teesside has, over the weekend, concluded a deal import steel from China for construction of the Gas Power Plant.

19 Jan

Ministers Alarmed as BP Set to Build Net Zero Teesside with Chinese-Imported Steel Our report is here: www.teesvalleymonitor.com/bp-building-...

teesvalleymonitor.comFunds for Teesside Airport Fly Under the RadarTees Valley Authority injects millions in funds to Teesside Airport without seeking cabinet approval

3 Jan

Is Teesside Airport Really Back in Profit? Airport pre-tax profit is £1.1 mn, but it received £10.1 mn in grants. TVCA awarded £12.5 mn grant in March. Our investigation reveals TVCA is also source of the £10.1 million. Did cabinet sanction this as well? www.teesvalleymonitor.com/funds-for-te...

teesvalleymonitor.comTurmoil at the Tees Valley Combined AuthorityTees Valley Authority's auditors have refused to sign off accounts for 2024/25. We discuss the ongoing dysfunction at the authority

18 Dec 2025

Turmoil at the Tees Valley Combined Authority TVCA continues to be mired in controversy as the official auditors refuse to sign off its latest set of accounts on the grounds of 'irregularities'. Our report gets down to the detail: www.teesvalleymonitor.com/turmoil-at-t...

teesvalleymonitor.comDefra in Denial over Tees Seal Pup Deaths100% of seal pups born in the Tees Estuary this year have died. It is claimed to be due to PCB contamination, but Defra refuses to countenance this

3 Dec 2025

Tees Seal Pups vs Defra In the week the government reveals its Environment Improvement Plan, our investigation into the seal pup mortality in Tees Estuary shows how hard it may be to persuade Defra to take it seriously: www.teesvalleymonitor.com/defra-in-den...

teesvalleymonitor.comFlagging Darlington: Far Right in Feeding FrenzyFlags being installed around town. Does pride or racism underlie it?

17 Sept 2025

Put Out More Flags? Like it or loathe it, our towns are now adorned with flags. Darlington has hundreds. Who's putting them up? Who is supporting them? Is the council dealing with the anti-social behaviour that has accompanied it? Our report is here www.teesvalleymonitor.com/flagging-dar...

9 Sept 2025

Request for Information about Teesside Airport Tees Valley Monitor received correspondence today containing information about Teesside Airport, but without contact details. We would like to appeal to its author to contact us by email on info@teesvalleymonitor.com, or DM here

teesvalleymonitor.comToxic Waste in the Tees Valley: A Growing Hazard?Proposal to dump radio-active waste in the region. Consultation is too narrow in scope. We assess the dangers and discuss failings by Environment Agency.

31 July 2025

More Toxic Waste Heading for the Tees Valley? Where Will It End Up? Application for a permit to dump radioactive waste at Port Clarence while toxic waste treated as non hazardous at Hartlepool landfill. Is public adequately protected? Our report is here: www.teesvalleymonitor.com/toxic-waste-...

teesvalleymonitor.comHouchen Sees Red During Mayoral Question TimeTees Valley mayor holds Q&A with the public, but struggles to focus on the issues at hand. He is condescending at times, and makes false statements at others.

26 July 2025

Tees Valley mayor holds first Question Time at Yarm School Involving some unkind remarks about Private Eye, some reticence about the latest deal that will enrich property developers, and some dubious assertions about NE Security and the Freeport: www.teesvalleymonitor.com/houchen-sees...

teesvalleymonitor.comNo Comment: Tees Valley MPs and the War in GazaGovernment challenged in High court over arms sales to Israel but MPs in Tees Valley fail to respond to request for comment. Should they be obliged to?

3 July 2025

No Comment: Deafening Silence from Tees Valley MPs on the Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza. We asked six MPs their opinion of the government's arms trade with Israel. Their unwillingness to respond raises issues about democratic accountability. Our report: www.teesvalleymonitor.com/no-comment--...

teesvalleymonitor.comDumping Radioactive Waste Port Clarence? Have Your Sayconsultation on use of Port Clarence Landfill for radioactive waste is open. EA wants only in technical comments. Local MPs may be more interested.

23 June 2025

Permit Applied for to Allow Dumping of Radioactive Waste at Port Clarence. Public consultation through Environment Agency is now open. However, contacting local MPs may prove more effective. Our report is here: www.teesvalleymonitor.com/dumping-of-r...

teesvalleymonitor.comHealth Implications of Closure Ensus Bioethanol PlantUS_UK trade deal undermines UK bioethanol industry. This industry has capacity to improve air quality and public health. Government should support it.

22 June 2025

Closure of Ensus Bioethanol Plant has implications for public health. A statement on the prospect of plant closure and a report by the Royal College of Physicians on improving UK air quality in the UK. Our report highlights the connection between the two. www.teesvalleymonitor.com/public-healt...

teesvalleymonitor.comUS-UK Trade Deal: Negative Impact Teesside BioethanolTrade deal allows improved access to UK for US bioethanol. UK producers in jeopardy, and risks for Teesside economic regeneration are disproportionate

29 May 2025

Crisis at Teesside Bioethanol Plant Recent US-UK trade deal allows US bioethanol manufacturers greater access to UK market, causing a crisis for UK producers, one of which is Ensus at Wilton. Knock-on effect on Teesside is considerable. Our report: www.teesvalleymonitor.com/us-uk-trade-...

23 May 2025

Another Day, Another Setback for Teesside Airport Easyjet announces it will set up a base at Newcastle Airport. How did the management at Teesside let that opportunity slip past them? In order to have any chance of financial viability, Teesside needs a low cost airline to set up a base there.

teesvalleymonitor.comTVCA in Crisis: Cabinet Hold Very Extraordinary MeetingCabinet meeting discusses letter of complaint by external auditors. Meeting is short, and cabinet members do not challenge proposals, despite their inadequacy

22 May 2025

TVCA Cabinet: Standing on the Deck of the Titanic While the mayor proposes inadequate measures to address criticism of the Authority by external auditors, cabinet members fail to challenge them. Are we waiting in vain for them to assert themselves? www.teesvalleymonitor.com/tvca-in-cris...

22 May 2025

Another Day, Another Setback for Teesside Airport Easyjet announces it will set up a base at Newcastle Airport. How did the management at Teesside let that opportunity slip past them?

teesvalleymonitor.comTeesside Airport Closes as Alicante Flight ApproachesOn 2 May a plane approaching Teesside had to divert to Manchester as the airport had closed at short notice. We look into the circumstances.

8 May 2025

Teesside Airport Closed at Short Notice Flight FR5958 from Alicante on 2 May had to divert to Manchester as Teesside closed shortly before it was due to land. TVM set out to discover why lay behind the chaos: www.teesvalleymonitor.com/teesside-air...

teesvalleymonitor.comTVCA Mayor: Questions over Social Media MisinformationThe mayor has been challenged about claims about jobs made in this social media posts, and the lack of TVCA support for business. Press needs to investigate

15 Apr 2025

Redundancies at Teesside Airport? Questions raised about the mayor's claims of job creation after £12.5 million investment. And further questions about the TVCA's commitment to supporting local business. Our report is here: www.teesvalleymonitor.com/tees-valley-...

teesvalleymonitor.comReality Bites for Houchen: Steps Down as Chair of MDCsTees Valley mayor will step down as chair of development corporations this year, as recommended by the Tees Valley Review. But why didn't he do it last year?

13 Apr 2025

Reality Bites for Houchen as Best Value Notice Starts to Take Effect Tees Valley mayor will step down as chair of three development corporations. Why didn't he do it sooner? And what else might be in the pipeline? Our report is here: www.teesvalleymonitor.com/reality-bite...